Soon-to-be Eagle Scout transforms SHS band room

Thursday

Apr 22, 2010 at 12:01 AMApr 22, 2010 at 10:14 PM

Shaul Kushinsky, 18, started Cub Scouts in the fall 1998 as a Tiger Scout in Pack 54. Now a Stoughton High School senior, Kushinsky is in Troop 54, which is sponsored by the South Area Solomon Schechter Day School in Norwood. His Scoutmaster is Stephen Woogmaster.

Staff reports

Shaul Kushinsky, 18, started Cub Scouts in the fall 1998 as a Tiger Scout in Pack 54. Now a Stoughton High School senior, Kushinsky is in Troop 54, which is sponsored by the South Area Solomon Schechter Day School in Norwood. His Scoutmaster is Stephen Woogmaster.

He will be presented the rank of Eagle Scout in an Eagle Court of Honor Sunday, April 25, at 3:30 p.m., at Ahavath Torah Congregation, 1179 Central St.

He answers a few questions about his Eagle Scout project:

What is your project?

My project took place in room E204 of Stoughton High School (also known as the band room). I first emptied the closet of equipment and storage units. I then inventoried and alphabetized all of the music and built new storage units for the closet. This consisted of shelves for the corner and along the wall, and two carts on wheels to hold guitars. All of it was built out of plywood and nails, and was painted white.

How did you come up with the idea?

I came up with the idea by talking to Mr. Davey, the band director at the High School. I saw the effects of Zach Schwartz's Eagle Project and since the music department had done so much for me, I wanted to do something for it. I knew how badly disorganized the closet was, so I talked to Mr. Davey about building new storage units and then developed the idea.

How much can it hold?

I do not have a definite amount that it can hold but everything that was there originally was put back into place and there is still some space left.

How long did it take?

I put in over 75 hours of my own time and other people put in over 191 hours combined. The total amount of time came out to about 267 hours of work.

What was the reaction of school personnel about your project?

The school personnel have been thankful for it. The closet is better organized and there is more room to move around. It is easily customizable, much of the sound equipment is off the floors, and all of the guitars can now be easily pulled out of the closet.

Were there other projects you considered and rejected?

There were other projects I considered. I was thinking about projects for different organizations, for example my temple, New England Sinai Hospital, and the Helen H. Hansen Elementary School, but I decided in the end that I wanted to work on a project for the group that had some of the greatest effect on me in my teenage years.

What's the most important thing working toward an Eagle taught you?

I have learned so much in working towards attaining the rank of Eagle.

Probably the most important thing I learned was the Heimlich Maneuver.

This is because there was an occurrence in March of 2009 where I had to utilize that knowledge to help save a life. For my self development, the most important thing I learned was the knowledge of how to be a leader.

With this knowledge I was able to complete my project, and also to be a better leader in my other extra-curricular activities and in school. I know that this knowledge will help me all throughout my life.